The best places to eat out on Christmas Day

Save on the washing up and have your Christmas feast out. Photo / 123RF

Christmas Day is supposed to be a lovely day spent with family and good food but unfortunately it all-too-often involves running from one relative's place to another or hosting large groups and spending all day in the kitchen - and all evening washing up.

If you've decided you'd really like to relax this year and let someone else do the cooking and cleaning, here are some great options for Christmas Day in Auckland. Booking is pretty much essential as many of them will fill up before Christmas Day.

Go on, hang the tradition and have a stress-free self-indulgent Christmas this year.

Masu

Masu restaurant on Federal Street, Auckland CBD. Photo / Doug Sherring

Masu is one of the most fabulous places to eat in Auckland any day of the year and we can't imagine nicer place to celebrate Christmas than surrounded by the very clever Nic Watt's modern Japanese cuisine. They'll be closed for lunch but are open from 5.30pm with the usual dynamic dinner menu. To be fair, we've never had anything we didn't love at Masu but we do implore you to try the beautiful sashimi and the crayfish spicy miso taco before you waddle out the door. And if the effort required to choose from the extensive menu eludes you, just go with one of the set menus; you really can't go wrong with anything here.

Details: Masu, SkyCity Grand Hotel, 90 Federal Street, Auckland. (09) 363 6278 www.skycityauckland.co.nz/restaurants/masu/

Grand Park

Grand Park restaurant at Alexandra Park. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Yum Cha is the ultimate no-fuss eating experience, perfect if you are looking for a casual, low-key all-about-the-food type Christmas brunch. Rock up some time between 10 and 3 (although booking would be smart), point at things in bamboo steamers you like, eat them, pay and leave. Grand Park does juicy plump Har Gow well - Prawn and Coriander and Prawn and Chives are two of our particular favourites - go for steamed greens in oyster sauce if you're feeling virtuous otherwise just dive headlong into crispy pork or deep fried squid. It's the perfect prelude to an afternoon in stretchy pants on the couch watching DVDs. Perfect.

Details: Grand Park Chinese Seafood Restaurant, Gate B, Alexandra Park Raceway, Green Lane West, Epsom. (09) 638 6998 www.grandparkrestaurant.co.nz

Satya

The Prawn Maharaja curry with Dal Makhani, Murg Badami and Palakura Cottage Cheese Curry from Satya on Karangahape Road. Photo / Dean Purcell

The gorgeous folk at Satya are once again showing their true Christmas spirit with free meals for lunch and dinner on the 25th December at all four of their branches. It will be three curries and rice as the owners have been doing for the last few years, to give back to the community. They know it's a tough time for many. Satya is definitely one of our favourite Indian restaurants for authentic curries and South Indian delicacies with bold flavours rather than watered-down creamy gravies and we love them even more for doing this. You can go there if you're struggling or even if you're not; they won't say no if you want to leave a donation. Lunch is from 12pm - 2pm and dinner from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.

Details: Satya, 271 Karangahape Rd, Auckland Central (09) 377 0007, 57 Mt Eden Rd, Mt Eden (09) 551 1000, 515 Sandringham Rd, Sandringham (09) 845 8451, 17 Great North Rd, Newton (09) 361 3612. www.satya.co.nz

Gusto at the Grand

Gusto Restaurant. Photo / Getty Images

Italians know how to eat, and a traditional Italian Christmas involves hours and hours of courses. If you'd like your own Italian experience, Kiwi-style, in Auckland head to Gusto for their special lunch menu including antipasto, scampi, oysters, clams, porchetta, saltimbocca and - of course - Sean Connolly's famous duck fat potatoes. Finish up with coffee Rum Baba, Cassata and, naturally, Panettone. Buon Natale! Gusto are also doing normal service for dinner with their regular menu.

Details: Gusto at the Grand, SKYCITY Grand Hotel, 90 Federal Street, Auckland Central,
(09) 363 7030. www.skycityauckland.co.nz/restaurants/gusto-at-the-grand

Langham - Palm Court Afternoon Tea

Tiffin afternoon tea at the Palm Court at the. Photo / Supplied

If high tea is more your thing, the Langham are Christmassing-up their usual fabulous offering with treats like truffle creme brulee with orange salad, duck foie gras mousse on brioche, cranberry shortbread with turkey salad, strawberry tart with Champagne mousse, eggnog cupcake and Christmas pudding crumble with rum marinated fruit. Nice excuse to put on your Sunday best and play ladies (and gentlemen) and apparently there's even a Santa visit, a small gift and Christmas chocs for everyone. The first sitting is from 11.30am - 2pm and the second is from 2.30pm - 4.30pm

Details: Palm Court, Langham Hotel, 83 Symonds St, Grafton, (09) 379 5132. www.auckland.langhamhotels.co.nz